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.P335 




Copyright 1S9J, by Mrs. J. I.. Pittman. 






In regard to the following verses and the 
introduction, I wish to say that the only part 
I am conscious of having taken, was simply hold- 
ing the pencil. Whatever force moved my hand, 
the ideas, the words, seemed to have their source 
outside of myself and independent of my will. The 
explanation I leave to others, merely stating the 
facts. 

Simple as they are in style, they are not within 
my power of creation. 

J. L. P. 



FROM THE STARS. 

The poems here written are but impressions 
communicated to the heart and mind of the 
writer, and called forth by the beauty and peace 
of her surroundings. 

An effort toward true life and high thought 
always meets with a response from the great 
mind and love which surrounds you, and thus 
you are brought into closer relations with the 
real though invisible world. 

Lyra. 



UNDER THE PINES. 

What is thy song, O pine tree, 
Thy sobbing, sighing song ? 
Like the sound of the restless ocean 
It moaneth ail day long. 

Sometimes in mournful measure, 
Sometimes so glad and free, 
Thy branches gently swaying 
Seem fraught witli a message to me. 

When weary or heavy-hearted. 
With care or fear opprest, ■ 
Thy song is calm and peaceful, 
And speaks to me of rest. 



A LULLABY. 

The clouds go sailing, sailing, 
Far off in the bright blue sky ; 
The pines are swaying, swaying. 
And chanting a lullaby. 

Baby goes svvinging, swinging. 
Under the branches low ; 
The birds are singing, singing. 
The grasses are nodding too. 

Baby is sleeping, sleeping. 

Fair and dimpled he lies; 

Angels their watch are keeping, keeping, 

Life seems a happy surprise. 

My baby, this life is but dreaming, dreaming. 
Empty and vain without God, 
And the good that we do is but seeming, seeming. 
Till we follow where Jesus hath trod. 

As the years go flying, flying, 

God keep you in His loving sight. 

And when life's brief day is dying, dying. 

Fill your soul with His gladness and light. 



HEAVEN. 

Too oft we think of Heaven as a far-off place, 
Which we can only reach by means of grace 

Of a great ruler — God ; 
Forgetting the sweet words of Jesus, whose dear feet 

This very world hath trod. 

Oft as He walked and lingered by the way, 
Cheering and blessing all from day to day, 

Poor, weary and alone, 
" Heaven is within your hearts," He said, 

"And there the Throne." 

When asked what we should do to win eternal life : 

" Sell all thou hast and give it to the poor, refrain from strife. 

Each other's burdens bear. 
Keep this great teaching day by day. 

And for the morrow have no care." 

When that blest day shalt come, when in life's school 

All men shall learn that brotherhood is better than to rule, 

Then peace and joy shall come ; 
Heaven then shall seem not some far-distant clime. 

But here on earth, our home. 



THE SPIRIT'S LONGING. 

Fleecy cloudlets, pure as snow, 
Harbingers of wind and rain. 
Let me join thy winged train. 

Let my spirit float with thee, 
Bear me swift o'er land and sea 
To the place where I would be. 

'Tis a land of sunny skies, 
Far and far away it lies, 
And its beauty never dies. 

Thither, without dread or fear. 
Pass our friends so fondly dear. 
Nevermore to greet us here. 

As thro' space so swift ye move. 
Bear them messages of love 
From our home to theirs above. 



TO NATURE IN SPRINGTIME. 

Far and near thro' mead and wold 
All thy beauty now unfold; 
Can its meaning e'er be told ? 

What the message of the breeze 
Softly wafted thro' the trees, 
Bringing perfume o'er the leas? 

Birds and flowers along the way, 
Greeting us so bright and gay, 
Do they answer yea or nay? 

Is it good or is it ill. 

The beauty that our hearts doth thrill, 

Is it chance or loving will ? 

All God's works shall feel His care, 
In all nature everywhere, 
Each and every one his share. 



A SONG OF CHEER. 

After the day, the quiet night, 
After the storm, the sunshine bright: 
After a world of care and strife, 
A home of peace and a real true life. 

After all question and doubt and fear 
Unlimited knowledge, for God is here; 
Here doubt shall vanish, and pain shall cease, 
And to all God's children come sweet release. 

Release from the burdens so hard to bear. 
Release from the yoke of sorrow they wear, 
And entrance to peace and joy and rest 
In their home with God — the land of the blest. 



A VISTA FAIR. 

Pausing here beneath the shade 
Of stately pines, 
My heart thrills with the beauty 
Of forest, plain and glade. 

The day is calm, no sound is heard 
Save the soft murmur of the trees, 
And far away the call 
Of some sweet singing bird. 

Far off against the sky 

The mountains rise, and as we gaze 

Upon them, ever changing 

From blue to gray, or with a purple haze, 

How many a thought of strength 

And rest doth in them lie. 

The clouds of fleecy whiteness 

And ever changing form, seem like fair couriers 

By them are borne our noblest thoughts 

Up to the great blue dome 

Of Heaven, 

From this our earthly home. 



TO LAURA. 

My days are sometimes weary, 

But then I dinna care, 
My love, with smile so cheery, 
Dispels the darkness dreary, 

My love so sweet, so fair. 

When cares press close about me, 

'Tis then her smile I meet ; 
Though all the world should scout me. 
My love will never doubt me, 
My love so fair, so sweet. 

And so, come joy or sorrow, 
Our hearts with rapture beat ; 

We greet each glad to-morrow, 
And never trouble borrow. 

And all our days are sweet. 



THE DELIVERER. 

The Angel of Death, 

God's messenger, 
He comes not as a foe to conquer, 
But is sent in pity and in love, 
And when he bids us go, 
It is to our fair home above ; 
We should not think of him 

With dread or fear, 
Nor at our loved one's going 

Shed a tear. 



OUT OF THE EARTH. 

Ask ye whence the spring doth come .' 

Far away on the mountain side 

Many a rivulet small doth glide, 

And on its way goes trickling down 

Thro' glistening sands and moss and stone, 

Till deep in the earth it finds a home. 

There, hidden away from mortal eye. 
Among the rocks it for years doth lie ; 
Tall trees above on the surface grow, 
And laughing children go to and fro, 
The robin sings and the rain doth fall 
And the love of God enfoldeth all. 

Though hidden the spring shall some day rise. 
And come to life 'neath the clear blue skies, 
And many and many who pass that way 
Shall be filled with life, and bless the day, 
When cool and clear from its rocky bed, 
Up through the earth its way was led. 



THE SOURCE OF LIGHT. 

If we but keep our hearts 

In harmony with the great heart of God, 

Then shall we learn the hidden things of life, 

And follow where brave men have trod ; 

Then to our eyes shall come a keener sight 

As we approach the source of love and light ; 

With clearer vision we shall look away, 

And glories burst upon us like the rising day ; 

The beauties that so near us lie 

Shall lead our minds to journey to the sky ; 

Thus shall our hearts and minds ne'er cease to grow, 

And all that Nature teaches we shall know ; 

For Nature is the teacher given by God, 

And if we listen to her gentle voice. 

And learn the lesson of air and light and sod, 

Our hearts will evermore rejoice. 



AT TWILIGHT. 

The firelight with its ruddy glow 

Fills all the room. 
And shadows play upon the ceiling low ; 

Gone is the gloom 

Here, safe within the haven of my home. 

At close of day, 
Fond memory with her visions sweet doth come 

Awhile to stay. 

The friends, companions of the long-ago 

Seem now so near, 
I almost hear their voices soft and low, 

Speaking sweet words of cheer. 

Heaven is no distant land, 

They seem to say. 
Nor those who've gone from out the little band 

So far away. 

This thought within my heart I bear 

From day to day; 
My soul is filled with peace, and fear 

Is driven away 



NOT DEATH BUT BIRTH. 

A hush now fills the room. 
And weeping friends stand round the bed, 
Their hearts are filled with grief and gloom, 
For she they loved is dead. 

There pale and cold she seems to lie, 
Nor heeds their grief, nor hears their cry ; 
Freed from all suffering and pain, 
Her face looks peaceful once again. 

What is the meaning of the smile 
Now on her lips, where was erstwhile 
A look of pain ; what vision fair 
Comes now to her whom we hold dear ? 

She goes not forth alone 

Into the shadowy land, 
But safe and swift is borne 

By an angelic band. 

They whom with voices sweet, 
God sends as messengers to earth 

His children dear to greet 

When called to their new birth. 



THE ANSWERING VOICE. 

A vision fair before me lies 
Of the sweet fields of Paradise ; 
Fair blossoms far and near I see, 
And song of birds now greeteth me. 

No weary toil nor pain is here, 
But joy and gladness everywhere; 
No doubt nor darkness here hath place, 
God's light now shines on every face. 

Friends whom we loved come forth to meet 
The new born soul with welcome sweet; 
When from the world we pass away, 
They lead us forth to endless day. 

Death to our clearer vision seems 
With life, but swiftly passing dreams, 
From which we wake with glad surprise 
In this our home of sunny skies. 



LOVE AND JOY. 

A little brown bird calls to his mate, 

And bids her follow where he doth fly : 

" The winds grow cold, my love ! " he cries, 

"And we must away to the sunny skies." 

A youth and a maid in the autumn late, 

And softly and sadly they say good-by, 

" The days will bo lonely, my darling ! '' he cries, 

" The sunlight for me is in your dear eyes." 

The little brown bird has flown with his mate. 
The lover has gone from the garden gate, 
But joy reigns now in every breast, 
And the shadows fall gently afar in the west ; 
The maiden has given a promise sweet, 
That shall bless his life and make it complete. 
The little birds sing 'neath the sunny skies. 
And in love and faith the winter flies. 



HOPE IN DEATH. 

The earth is wrapped in sleep, 

But God in memory fond doth keep 

Each clinging vine and bud and blossom fair; 

The birds and flowers sweet, 

After the weary winter's frost and chill, 

With song and beauty all our hearts shall thrill. 

With sunshine warm and bright, and gentle rain, 

God calls from out the gloomy earth 

The grass and flowers again; 

With skies of blue and balmy air. 

Up springeth hope, and everywhere 

God's love is felt and all His care. 



THE STARS. 

" In my Father s House are many mansions." 

The stars, you say, as oft with longing eyes 

And weary hearts your thoughts fly upward 

To the radiant skies ; 

And as in solitude you muse, 

Eagerly listening if there be replies 

From those fair worlds revealing mysteries : 

'Tis then we come, 

We long since dead to earth, but still alive : 

And o'er your waiting souls 

Sweet thoughts of hope and cheer diffuse. 

These far-off stars and planets are the mansions fair 

Which ye shall all inherit, for He hath a care 

For all His children; we who now are here 

Are all your brethren ; fear not Death's Angel 

When He comes to call you ; and though the way 

Seems long and dark, 'tis but a step to glorious day, 

And we you love, with welcome sweet, 

Your new-born souls with gladness meet. 

Think then of this : the stars that shine so bright 

They are your homes, the worlds of peace and light. 



GOD'S HERALDS. 

O weary, heart-sick soul, iny brother ! 

This is not h'fe, there is another ; 

Yea, and a world where strife and sin shall end, 

Where justice reigns, and where our Lord and Friend 

Awaits us. Dwell not on earth alone. 

Hut midst its cares and grief. 

Keep ever in your hearts this sweet belief : 

That those who lead your thoughts to worlds more fair 

Are not mere dreamers, but from far away 

God bids them speak sweet messages. 

And win your hearts to good and earnest ways ; 

They are His heralds, with sight made clear 

By thought of the world's need and wish for good to all : 

They are by Him anointed, listen to their call ; 

Where they shall lead press on, and falter not, 

Ye shall not fail nor fear, 

Hope, love and right o'ercometh all. 









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